Topic: Receiving Communion in a Non-Catholic Church

Date originally posted: March 21, 2002

Source of this posting: Moderator response to emailed question

Moderator who originally posted this source: K. Martyn

Question:  I am Catholic and have relatives who are Christian and attend a non-Catholic church.  Recently I attended a baptism at their church and did not receive communion because it was not my church.  Afterwards the relative told me that in their church it is okay to received communion there and it is more a sense of unity.  I always thought it was not my faith and I should not receive.  I tried to get the question answered by my parish priest but got conflicting answers. Can you advise?

Answer:

Catholics are not supposed to receive communion in other churches. Period.  Catholics do not receive communion in Protestant churches because they don't believe in the real presence in the way we do.  And, Catholics do not receive in Orthodox churches because they are  not open to us receiving.  We can attend their services ad pray and sing with them - as long as we go to a Catholic Mass too!